Marine Life & Conservation
FINished with Fins
I’m Sharon Kwok, a Eurasian American born in Hong Kong but growing up in both places. Consequently I’m in a position to appreciate both cultures. Until recent years, every banquet I attended seemed to include shark fin soup. Although the exact origin of this ostentatious dish is shrouded in mystery, we do know it had to come from China’s southern coastal regions, and it was never a favourite of the Northern Chinese. Therefore l doubt the truthfulness of claims that it was a fancy dish created for the Emperor; perhaps it was a fancy marketing ploy, but we’ll never know for sure. I’ve heard a version of shark fin soup’s origin being simply the fishermen’s frugal use of their catch. In bygone days, any obviously useful parts would either be sold fresh or salted to survive a trip to inland China. Thus, they figured out a way to make the fins edible, then palatable via the tasty ingredients used in the broth because the fins are virtually tasteless but for their fishiness.
Over the past several years, concerned parties have noticed a dramatic decline in sharks. So while businesses who deal in shark fins try to catch as much as possible while they’re still around, conservation groups are doing their best to preserve the species. In a bold move, on June 30th 2010, Hawaii started an avalanche of legal opposition to this Chinese dish; very appropriate seeing as their native population respect not only sharks but also their Shark-God ‘Kamoho’. In 2011, I was involved with lobbying for AB 376, California’s ban on the trade in shark fins. This bill was met with serious and well funded opposition due to the size of the older Chinese community in California, many of whom have business interests in the restaurant or dried seafood trade (a trade which often stretched to Asia due to much of the fins from southern American seas funnelling through California). Governor Jerry Brown signed AB376 in Oct 2011 and even after several legal attempts to overthrow it, it holds fast. This movement went swiftly to other states and even countries but the most opposition is in Asia. Living in Hong Kong, I’m at ground Zero of the trade. Fellow advocates and l try to affect change wherever and however we can, from convincing hotels to opt for ‘fin-free’ menus to pressurising airlines to stop carrying them. We also raise awareness via education in schools or raise public awareness through media. As a whole, we are thrilled to see results and sometimes, big changes such as the latest big coupe in Asia which saw Bruni’s Sultan effecting a national ban of all catch-and-landing of sharks this June.
The reason for all the fuss isn’t merely humane issues although that should be a strong enough one because most fins come from ‘finning’ rather than as a by-product of fishing. Finning is when sharks are caught only for their fins and their bodies are thrown back into the ocean to die a torturous death. This happens because there are insufficient regulations. Fisheries that target fins send their massive boats out to collect as much high yielding goods as possible, and while a pound of perfectly edible shark meat might sell for a few U.S. dollars, a pound of premium fin could sell for a few hundred. Since many large shark species take decades to reach sexual maturity and bear but a few young infrequently, these apex predators do not multiply quickly enough to cope with the insatiable demand…and because dried fins can be kept indefinitely, fisheries will literally take all they can for the unsustainable trade.
Perhaps a more important reason for putting a stop to this is the preservation of our oceans as we know it. Sharks have been here since pre-Jurassic times and they are a vital link that maintain the biodiversity of our marine ecology. We know that they’ve never come under the level of predation they’re currently suffering and their numbers are in obvious decline, but we don’t know for sure what their disappearance will mean to us. However, do we want to risk it? Dare we? Our oceans cover well over three quarters of the Earth’s surface. It helps maintain our climate as well as providing us with water and much of our oxygen. We are custodians of our resources so that future generations may enjoy them so at this time, one of the most responsible things to do is to say ‘NO’ to shark fin soup.
GROUNDTRUTH, a story-led material innovation company that is fast forging a reputation for its next generation travel gear, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with the world’s largest diving association – PADI – on a range of pioneering submersible bags.
Entitled UNDA, Latin for wave, the collaborative range sets a new standard in sustainable design, with the GROUNDTRUTH team transforming the standard drybag into a future-focused travel companion, representing the two partners’ shared philosophy of ocean and environmental protection.
The 100% recycled bag range’s proprietary material is made from plastic waste including ghost fishing nets, post-consumer Nylon and plastic bottles. It is used alongside GROUNDTRUTH’S own patent-pending GT-OCO-CO2® hardware range, made from recycled plastic and captured CO2 emissions.
With a presence via 6,600 dive centres and resorts in 184 countries and territories throughout the world, PADI has amassed a hugely engaged community of 30 million+ divers to date. This collection creates a platform to highlight the shocking / mind blowing impact of plastics affecting our blue planet while actively contributing to its removal – empowering people from around the globe to take meaningful action to protect what they love.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with PADI on this project which will be launched via PADI’s global diving network and via our own channels,” said Georgia Scott, Co-founder and CEO of GROUNDTRUTH. “Ghost fishing nets account for over 50% of all plastic waste in our oceans, causing irreversible damage to global marine ecosystems. By combining our expertise in innovative design with PADI’s dedication to Ocean conservation, we aim to make a significant positive impact through the repurposing of these harmful plastics. GROUNDTRUTH was created with the value that all consumer products should contribute to a safer planet.”
“We are proud to collaborate with GROUNDTRUTH, as this partnership exemplifies our shared mission to mobilize the global community of Torchbearers who actively explore and protect our ocean,” said Lisa Nicklin, Vice President of Growth and Marketing for PADI Worldwide “Together, we’ve revolutionized the way that divers can carry around their essentials while elevating their commitment to protecting the place they love. It’s truly a product line designed by divers, for divers.
The UNDA range will be available for pre-order through www.groundtruth.global from the 3rd of February 2025 with PADI members being given the first opportunity to buy via their channels. Join us in this pioneering initiative to explore, protect, and preserve our oceans for future generations.
For more information about the GROUNDTRUTH x PADI collaboration, click here.
About GROUNDTRUTH®
GROUNDTRUTH sparks a new generation of travel gear that enables and accelerates positive change, making a transformative impact to industries, processes and people. As a green technology business and lifestyle brand, at the heart of GROUNDTRUTH is the exploration and development of new materials crafted from the world’s pollution and plastic waste. Their patent-pending GT-OCO-CO2® hardware range, created from recycled plastic and captured CO2 Emissions, is a world first.
Utilising their origins as investigative documentary filmmakers, sisters and founders Georgia, Sophia and Nina Scott, have hand-built GROUNDTRUTH’s unique Bluesign® certified supply chain ecosystem with partners who share the brand’s ethos for people and our planet. Their mission and products are created to support and empower individuals who are making a difference, both in their communities and around the world.
About PADI®
PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the largest purpose-driven diving organization with a global network of 6,600 dive centers and resorts, 128,000 professional members and more than 29 million certified divers to date. Committed to our blue planet, PADI makes the wonder of the underwater world accessible to all, empowering people around the world to experience, explore and take meaningful action, as Ocean TorchbearersTM, to protect the world beneath the surface. For over 50 years, PADI is undeniably The Way the World Learns to Dive®, setting the standard for the highest quality dive training, underwater safety and conservation initiatives while evolving the sport of diving into a passionate lifestyle. For divers by divers, PADI is obsessed with transforming lives and, with its global foundation, PADI AWARETM, creating positive ocean change. Seek Adventure. Save the Ocean.SM
Sharks dwell off the UK coastline, but did you know there is one that glows in the dark? Join Lloyd Rees-Jones at this year’s GO Diving Show in March when he takes to the UK Stage to showcase a very different side of our marine life when viewed in a different light (no pun intended!).
Lloyd Rees-Jones is a HSE Part 4 Media Diver, PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, underwater videographer and seasoned volunteer with Neptunes Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC). For almost 20 years he has been completely captivated by three shore diving locations in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, and every year he discovers something new that fills him with excitement for the season ahead and keeps him going back year after year.
Ultraviolet night diving in Pembrokeshire
Lloyd’s talk on the UK Stage will be about marine fluorescence and the nocturnal activities of our favourite coastal species, and will give a glimpse on how ultraviolet night diving has the potential to rekindle our passion for night diving – and also the hidden benefits it can bring to our UK diving adventures.
Go Diving Show 2025 takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 1st -2nd March.
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